Sliver feeding means for high pile fabric circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

Means for feeding sliver to the needles of a high pile fabric circular knitting machine, which incorporates sliver shredding means for reducing the sliver to a thin sheet of fibers of uniform density for delivery to the needles, and which has pattern means for controlling the rotation of the feed rolls to deliver sliver to the needles intermittently, and/or at variable rates of speed, according to a predetermined pattern. The device makes possible the knitting of multi-color high pile fabric of random design, free of the rigid, striped effects which have characterized multi-color pile fabrics heretofore.

United States Patent [191 Thore [4 1 July 29, 1975 1 i SLIVER FEEDING MEANS FOR HIGH PILE FABRIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Related U.S. Application Data {62] Division of Set. No. 304.099. Nov. 6, 1972.

[52] U.S. Cl 66/9 B [51] Int. Cl. D04B 9/14 [58] Field of Search 19/83, 99, 105; 66/9 B, 66/50 B; 74/353, 354

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 986,241 3/1911 Stuhlmacher 74/354 1.000.430 8/1911 Morgan 19/83 1,439,414 12/1922 Hanson 74/354 3,019,623 2/1962 Howes r i 1. 66/9 B 3.122.904 3/1964 Brandt 66/9 B 3.246.487 4/1966 .landa ct 111.... 66/50 B 3.427.829 2/1969 Wiesinger 66/9 B 3,495,422 2/1970 Miller 66/9 B 3,660,628 5/1972 Celovsky 74/353 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,046 1855 United Kingdom 19/83 174,790 2/1922 United Kingdom 66/9 B Primary Examiner--Robert R. Mackey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Miller, Frailey & Prestia [57] ABSTRACT Means for feeding sliver to the needles of a high pile fabric circular knitting machine, which incorporates sliver shredding means for reducing the sliver to a thin sheet of fibers of uniform density for delivery to the needles, and which has pattern means for controlling the rotation of the feed rolls to deliver sliver to the needles intermittently, and/or at variable rates of speed, according to a predetermined pattern. The device makes possible the knitting of multi-color high pile fabric of random design, free of the rigid, striped effects which have characterized multi-color pile fabrics heretofore.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] JUL 2 91975 PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 Fig. I0

PATENIED JUL 2 9 I975 IrI/I'III/ SLIVER FEEDING MEANS FOR HIGH PILE FABRIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application is a division of my pending patent application Ser. No. 304,099 filed Nov. 6, I972, entitled Sliver Feeding Means for High Pile Fabric Circular Knitting Machines".

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of this invention is to provide new and improved sliver feeding means for multi-feed high pile fabric circular knitting machines having pattern means whereby each sliver feeding device of the machine is individually and accurately controlled, according to a predetermined fabric pattern.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sliver feeding means for high pile fabric circular knitting machines having control means for feeding sliver selectively intermittently to the needles, according to a predetermined pattern, while avoiding build up of sliver fibers on the doffer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sliver feeding means having sliver feed roll control means for varying the rate of sliver feed. to vary selectively the density of the sliver in the fabric. By means of such speed control means, the same weight of sliver can be utilized for several different weights of fabric, by varying selectively the rate of sliver feed to the needles of the knitting machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sliver feeding means for high pile fabric circular knitting machines having shredding means for shredding or tearing the sliver, and forming it into a uniform sheet of fibers for presentation to the needles of the knitting machine thereby eliminating slugs. ribs and similar defects in the fabric.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the invention, in its preferred form, comprises the usual wire-covered doffer and main cylinder, a pair of wire-covered feed rolls for delivering sliver to the main cylinder, the wire coverings of the feed rolls meshing with each other and with the wire covering of the main cylinder, pattern mechanism controlling an electric clutch for imparting intermittent rotation to the feed rolls, according to any selected pattern. and adjustable speed control means for varying selectively the rate of rotation of the feed rolls, and hence the rate of sliver feed to the knitting machine. By means of the foregoing arrangement, it is possible, for the first time, to knit multi-color pile fabric patterns of random design, free of rigid or stripped effects, having a predetermined pile density, utilizing sliver of constant, pre-selected weight.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partial view in top plan showing the knitting head of a multi-feed high pile fabric circular knitting machine equipped with a plurality of sliver feeding means incorporating this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged. fragmentary view in side elevation indicated by the arrows 2--2 of FIG. 1, showing a preferred sliver feeding means of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view in side elevation of the sliver feeding means, indicated by the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in section indicated by the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in front elevation indicated by the arrows S5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in section showing the meshing of the feed rolls and main cylinder of the sliver feeding means, taken from within the broken rectangle indicated at 6 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in top plan of the sliver selection means illustrated within the broken circle 7 of FIG. I.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view in elevation indicated by the arrows 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in elevation of one of the jacks used in the sliver selection means of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, schematic illustration of the type of random-design, multi-color, high pile fabric produced by a knitting machine employing the sliver feeding means of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. I, by way of illustration, there is shown in top plan the knitting head of an eight feed high pile fabric circular knitting machine. The machine is provided with eight sliver and yarn feeding stations spaced uniformly about the circle of needles 20. For convenience, the eight sliver and yarn feeding stations have been designated, proceeding in the direction of needle rotation, by the reference numerals I to 8 inclusive. Also uniformly spaced about the circle of needles 20 are eight pattern mechanisms II to 18 inclusive, each including conventional needle selecting pattern drums. Each of the mechanisms 11-18 is disposed angularly in advance of one of the feeding stations 1-8, and selects needles in accordance with standard knitting practice. Thus, the needle selection means of mechanism I1 selects those needles which are to receive sliver at station I, the needle selection means of mechanism 12 selects those needles which are to receive sliver at station 2,

etc.

Each of the sliver and yarn feeding stations of the machine includes the usual yarn feeding means (not shown) together with a sliver feeding means or device 19 of this invention. As usual, the sliver feeding means at each station is disposed immediately in advance of the yarn feeding means.

The novel sliver feeding means of this invention is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2-6 inclusive. Referring particularly to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a sliver feeding device 19, a needle 20, needle cylinder 22 and ring gear 24. The latter rotates with the needle cylinder and meshes with the usual pinion 26, to impart driving power to the sliver feeding device. The sliver feeding device or means includes the usual wire-covered doffer 28 and main cylinder 30, for transferring a roving of sliver 32 from a source (not shown) to the needles 20 of the knitting machine. The doffer and main cylinder are caused to rotate, respectively, in the directions indicated by the arrows of FIG. 2, by the driven pinion 26 through conventional drive mechanism not fully shown, but which includes gearing 50 (FIG. I) and the vertical and transverse shafts, and their associated gearing, comprising part of the shafting and gearing indicated collectively by the reference numeral 58 (FIG. 2). Gearing 50 is conventional gearing of the type usually employed in this art for driving the main cylinder and doffer from pinion 26 by well known intermediate drive means which includes the vertical and transverse shafts aforesaid, with their associated gearing, indicated collectively by the reference numberal 58. Gearing 50, for example, may be of the type illustrated in Schmidt US. Pat. No. 3,501,812. The sliver feeding dcvide 19 is supported by any conventional means on the usual head ring 34, forming part of the knitting machine structure.

The sliver feeding means of this invention incorporates a sliver shredding means, the details of which are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6. The sliver shredding means includes a pair of rotatable sliver feed rolls, 40, 44, each covered with a wire covering 42, 46, respectively. The feed rolls 40, 44 are rotatable respectively. in the directions indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 3, 6 by a drive means to be explained in more detail, connected to the pinion 26. The wire coverings 42, 46 of the feed rolls each include plural circumferentially extending wires, uniformly disposed over the entire periphery of each roll. The exposed portions of the wires are of generally uniform length. The wires of the two feed rolls, 40, 44 preferably intermesh or interengage a distance approximately equal to one-half of the length of the exposed portions of the wires, when the rolls rotate. For good sliver shredding, it is preferred that the individual wires of roll 40 extend from the periphery thereof so as to incline slightly toward its direction of rotation, while the wires of roll 44 incline slightly in a direction opposite to the rotation of that roll.

The sliver shredding means also includes the wire covering 48 for the main cylinder 30. The individual wires of the main cylinder 30 are formed with their distal ends bent or inclined toward the direction of rotation of the main cylinder. Further, the circumferentially extending wires of the main cylinder 30, in order to provide a more effective sliver shredding action, preferably interengage with the peripherally extending wires of the feed rolls 40, 44. To get good sliver shredding, the wires of the feed rolls 40, 44 should penetrate the wire covering 48 of the main cylinder 30 beyond the point where the wires of the latter are bent or inclined (see FIG. 6).

Thus, the feed rolls 40, 44 serve not only to deliver sliver 32 to the sliver transfer means comprising main cylinder 30 and doffer 28, but by reason of their wire coverings, which mesh with each other and with the wire covering of the main cylinder 30, they also constitute means to tear or render the sliver, and form it into a thin, uniform layer of fibers as it passes to the main cylinder. By reason of this shredding action, faults which have characterized high pile knitted fabric in the past, such as slugs and ribs in the fabric, are eliminated. To aid in the shredding action, it also is preferred that the main cylinder 30 rotate at a considerably faster speed of rotation than the feed rolls 40, 44. By way of illustration, an effective sliver shredding action may be achieved if the feed rolls are rotated at 2 rpm while the main cylinder is rotated at 200 rpm. The speed ratios are provided by a proper selection of gearing 50, I34, I36 (FIGS. 1, 4).

Of course, wire covered sliver feed rolls are not new per se. Such rolls are disclosed in Tauber US. Pat. No. l,l 14,414. However, the wire covered rolls of Tauber are utilized merely to deliver sliver to the main cylinder. They are not employed, as in this invention, in cooperation with the wire covering of the main cylinder, to provide a sliver shredding means.

As the sliver 32 is drawn from its source (not shown) by the rolls 40, 44, it passes through an aperture 52,

and then over an upwardly-inclined chute 54 of generally U-shaped configuration.

Referring again to FIGS. 2-5, the speed control means for feed rolls 40, 44 now will be described. The

drive means for the rolls includes ring gear 24, pinion 26 and the usual shafting and gearing driven thereby, generally indicated by the reference numeral 58. Shafting and gearing 58 transmit driving power to a worm 60 which meshes with and drives gear 62 affixed to one end of a rotatable, transverse shaft 64 (FIGS. 2, 4). The shaft 64 is supported at its opposite end by a bracket 66 depending from the base frame 68 of the sliver feeding device.

Worm 60, gear 62, shaft 64 and bracket 66 are enclosed within a box-like structure 70, supported at its top by base frame 68 in any suitable manner.

Affixed to shaft 64 is a cone of gears 72 composed of a plurality of axially aligned individual gears 72', 72" etc. (FIGS. 3, 4). The individual gears of gear cone 72 are affixed to, and rotate with, shaft 64. Beginning with gear 72', the successive gears of the gear cone are formed of progressively increasing diameter. The progressive increase in gear diameter preferably is such that each succeeding gear has the same incremental increase in teeth above the number of teeth of its preceeding gear. For example, the variation in gear teeth could begin with the first gear 72 having 16 teeth, the next gear 72" having 18 teeth, the next gear having teeth, etc. Of course, this progressive variation is a matter of design, and may be varied as desired or required.

Disposed above transverse shaft 64 is a second transverse shaft 74 supported rotatably by spaced brackets 76, 78 depending from frame 68. Shaft 74 and its supporting brackets 76, 78 also are disposed within box 70 (FIG. 4). Shaft 74 is provided with an elongated, axially extending keyway 80.

Mounted on shaft 74, for rotation therewith. is a spur gear 84, having affixed thereto a key 86 adapted for slidable engagement within keyway 80. By reason of this construction, gear 84 is capable of axial displacement or adjustment, selectively as desired, along shaft 74.

Gear 84 meshes with an idler gear 88 rotatably supported by a bracket 90 depending from shaft 74. Bracket 90 is mounted on shaft 74 with capacity to be swiveled about the axis thereof in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, in order to bring idler gear 88 either into or out of engagement with one of the gears of the gear cone 72.

Bracket 90, as is best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, encases both gears 84 and 88. and maintains gears 84, 88 in meshing alignment. By reason of keyway 80 and key 86, it is possible to adjust the entire ensemble consisting of gears 84, 88 and bracket 90 axially with respect to shafts 74, 64, to engage selectively idler gear 88 with any one of the gears of the gear cone 72. Thus, the speed of rotation of shaft 74 may be varied selectively, according to the selective engagement of idler gear 88 with one of the gears of the gear cone 72.

The gear selector means comprising bracket 90 and gears 84, 88 may be provided with a rigid handle 92, for ease in moving idler gear 88 to, and into and out of engagcmcnt with, a selected gear of the cone of gears.-

Handle 92 may be secured to the bracket in any suitable manner.

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred means for maintaining idler gear 88 in meshing relationship with any one of the gears of the cone of gears 72. More particularly, the front of enclosure is provided with a fixed upper portion 94, a fixed lower portion 96 and an intermediate portion of door 98, pivoted at one side by pivot 100. The upper edge of lower portion 96 is formed into a series of uniformly spaced, inclined notches 106 designed to receive and retain the distal end of handle 92, when it is swiveled down, about shaft 74, to engage idler gear 88 with one of the gears of gear cone 72. The lower edge 108 of pivotal door 98 is inclined at the same angle as are notches 106, in the manner shown in FIG. 5. Thus, when door 98 is pivoted to closed position, it rests upon the distal end of handle 92, engaged within a selected slot 106, thereby acting to retain idler gear 88 in meshing relationship with the selected gear of gear cone 72. If desired, any suitable securing means (not shown) may be employed to retain door 98 in closed position.

Thus, the speed of rotation of shaft 74 may be controlled selectivity, as desired, by the speed control means composed of gear cone 72 and the gear selector means comprising bracket and gears 84. 88. If it is desired to change the speed of rotation of shaft 74, gate 98 is opened about pivot 100, as shown by the shadow lines in FIG. 5, and handle 92 is raised out of the slot in which it had been engaged. The gear selector means then is moved axially of shafts 74 and 64, to engage idler gear 88 with any of the other gears of gear cone 72, as desired.

As best shown in FIG. 4, a sprocket wheel 112 is mounted on one end of shaft 74, and by means of sprocket chain 114 drives sprocket wheel 116 affixed to a rotatable clutch element 120 of a conventional magnetic clutch 118. Clutch element 120 is mounted for rotation on a fixed hollow tube 122 suitably secured to the frame 68 of the sliver feeding means 19. Clutch element 120 includes axially displaceable clutch plate 124 of usual construction. Clutch plate 124 is rotated at selected speeds, as determined by the speed control means previously described, from shaft 74 by means of sprocket chain 114.

Clutch 118 is sustained by a bracket 126 affixed in any suitable manner to frame 68. The clutch 118 includes a second clutch element 128, adapted to be electrically energized, in a manner to be explained. The clutch element 128 includes a clutch plate 130, disposed in opposing relation to axially displaceable clutch plate 124. When the clutch 118 is energized, plate 124 is attracted to and engaged magnetically with plate 130. to impart rotation thereto,

Clutch element 128 is affixed to one end of rotatable transverse shaft 132 supported for rotation by the frame 68 of the sliver feeding means. Shaft 132 is disposed internally of the hollow tube 122, and has affixed thereto, for rotation therewith. sliver feed roll 44. Affixed to the opposite end of shaft 132 is a gear 134 which meshes with a second gear 136 affixed to end of a second transverse. rotatable shaft 138. The shaft 138 also is supported for rotation by the frame 68, and has affixed thereto sliver feed roll 40.

When the electric clutch 118 is energized, and the clutch plates are magnetically engaged, the rotational drive of clutch element 120 is imparted to clutch element 128. to drive shaft 132 and lower sliver feed roll 44 affixed thereto. At the same time. rotation is imparted to the upper sliver feed roll 40 by means of gears 134, 136 and shaft 138.

Thus, when the electric clutch 118 is energized, the sliver feed rolls 40, 44 may be driven at any selected rotational speed, within the range of speeds permitted by the gear cone 72. With such arrangement, by simply varying the speed of rotation of the sliver feed rolls, it is possible, with the same grain weight of sliver roving 32, to knit high pile fabric having a wide, selected range of weight and pile density. In practice, it has been possible, utilizing the sliver feed roll drive and speed control means above described, to vary the weight of the pile fabric being knitted by increments as small as one half ounce per yard of fabric.

The foregoing speed control arrangement eliminates the necessity for providing slivers of several different grain weights, in order to produce different weights or densities of fabric. It also eliminates the necessity of maintaining a large inventory of gears for the sliver feed rolls, and reduces substantially the down time involved upon changing the weight or pile density of fabric being made by the machine.

Of course, when the clutch 118 is not energized, the clutch plates 124, are separated in the usual manner. When this occurs, shaft 74 continues to drive clutch element 120 via chain 114, while clutch element 128, clutch plate 130, shaft 132, etc. remain stationary.

Turning now to FIGS. 7-9, the pattern mechanism for controlling the electric clutch 118 now will be described. This sliver feed control means will be described in respect of the pattern mechanism 11 of FIG. 1, but it is to be understood that the description is ap plicable also to the remaining pattern mechanisms 12-18 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The pattern mechanism 11 includes a conventional needle selection pattern drum having the usual complement of upright, butted, pattern jacks 152 disposed circumferentially about the drum. The jacks 152 are provided with the usual needle selecting butts 154, and the usual top butt 156, disposed above the annular coil spring 158.

The needle selecting drum 150 is racked in the usual manner by racking cam mounted on the needle cylinder 22, operating through the usual racking mechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 162. The jack butts 154, as is well known, acting through selecting levers or fingers 164, are operative to permit selected needle cylinder pattern jacks 166 to rise up the jack cam (not shown), to raise selected needles to tuck level for reception of sliver fibers from the doffer. Wherever a pattern jack butt 154 has been broken away, the levers 164 are operative to engage the bottom butts of the needle cylinder pattern jacks 166, and rock the same inward 0f the needle cylinder 22, to cause them to miss the jack cam (not shown). As a result of this latter action, the needles associated with such pattern jacks remain at welt level, and do not receive sliver as they pass the doffer.

Spaced from the pattern drum 150, and secured to the bed plate of the knitting machine, is an upstanding post 168. Pivotally mounted at the top of post 168, by means of a pivot 170, is a generally L-shaped lever 172 provided with a cam 174. The lever 172 is urged toward the needle selecting drum 150 by means of a spring 176 having one end secured to the underside of lever 172 and its other end secured in a suitable manner to the bed plate of the machine. Spring 176 urges cam 174 of lever 172 against the top butts 156 of the jacks 152, as best illustrated in FIG. 8.

Affixed to the upper surface of lever 172 is a conventional microswitch 178, electrically connected to electric clutch 118. The microswitch 178 is provided with a pivotal arm 180 having at its distal end a roller 182 adapted to contact a fixed element 184, such as a threaded bolt, affixed to the bed plate of the machine. As the pattern drum 150 is racked in a counterclockwise direction by cam 160, the top butts 156 of the successive jacks 152 come into contact with the cam 174 of lever 172. As each succeeding butt 156 engages cam 174, lever 172 is urged in a clockwise direction about pivot 170. against the force of spring 176, to maintain roller 182 lightly in contact with bolt 184 (FIG. 7). In such circumstance, the contacts (not shown) of switch 178 are open, and no electrical impulses pass to clutch 118 to energize it.

However, when a butt 156 is removed from a jack 152, as illustrated by the shadow lines in FIG. 9, spring 176 urges lever 172 counter-clockwise about pivot 170, since there is no butt 156 to contact cam 174. As a result, roller 182 is pressed against bolt 184 to pivot arm 180 to close the contacts of switch 178 and com plete a circuit to electric clutch 118, thereby energizing the same. As a result, clutch plate 124 is attracted magnetically to clutch plate 130. to impart rotation to the sliver feed rolls 40, 44, as previously explained. The rate at which the sliver feed rolls rotate, as previously described, is dependent upon the setting of idler gear 88 with respect to gear cone 72.

Each of the pattern mechanisms 11-18 of FIG. 1 incorporates the sliver feed control means just described. and each includes a microswitch 178 connected electrically to one of the eight sliver feeding means 19 of the machine. Thus, sliver may be fed selectively by the doffers 28 at each sliver and yarn feeding station 18, as desired, according to a predetermined pattern.

Preferably, the jacks 152 of the pattern drums 150 select needles for reception of sliver fiber at the next succeeding sliver and yarn feeding station, whereas the sliver feed control means associated with each pattern drum, controlled by the top butts 156, controls the electric clutch at the following sliver and yarn feeding station. Thus, pattern mechanism 11 of FIG. 1 selects needles for the reception of sliver at sliver and yarn feeding station 1, but controls the clutch 118, for the selective feeding of sliver, at station 2. Similarly, pattern mechanism 12 selects needles for reception of sliver at sliver and yarn feeding station 2 and controls the electric clutch for the selective feeding of sliver at station 3, etc. Of course, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that each such sliver feed control means may be readily adapted to control the electric clutch at the next succeeding feeding station, or at any other feeding station disposed about the needle cylinder, as desired.

It will be seen that this invention provides individual pattern means for controlling precisely, according to predetermined patterns, the feeding of sliver by a plurality of sliver feeding devices to a multi-feed high pile fabric circular knitting machine. It is possible to control each sliver feeding means so that sliver is fed selectively and intermittently, as desired, at each station of the machine and. when fed, may be precisely controlled as to the rate of feed, so as to vary selectively the density of the pile and the weight of the fabric being knit. This invention makes possible the knitting, on a commercially acceptable basis. of multi-color high pile fabrics of completely random design. Heretofore, it has been possible to provide multi-color fabric designs limited to a rigid, striped effect, because of the limited sliver feed controls heretofore utilized.

FIG. 10 illustrates schematically a four color, random pattern, high pile fabric 200 which, for the first time, may be produced on a multi-feed high pile fabric circular knitting machine. The fabric 200 may have areas 202 of red pile. areas 204 of blue pile, areas 206 of green pile ad areas 208 of yellow pile. all such areas being disposed at random throughout the fabric, without any rigid, striped or repeat effect. To knit such a fabric, the machine may be set up to feed red sliver fibers at station 1, under the control of pattern mechanism 18, blue sliver fibers at station 2 under control of mechanism 11, green sliver fibers at station 3 under the control of mechanism 12 and yellow sliver fibers at station 4 under the control of mechanism 13. Similarly, red, blue. green and yellow sliver fibers are fed to the needles, respectively, at stations 5, 6, 7 and 8. While sliver is fed at all eight stations, to knit a four-color. random design fabric, yarn is fed at only two of the stations, located at diametrically opposing positions of the machine. For example. the machine might be operated to feed yarn to the needles at stations 4 and 8. Thus, two courses of fabric are knit upon each rotation of the needle cylinder 22.

In knitting such a four color two feed fabric, to produce a random multi-color high pile fabric of the type exemplified by FIG. 10, three of the four colors. in each sequence of colors, are fed to the needles per rotation. Thus, during a given rotation of the needle cylinder 22, red, blue and green sliver could be fed to selected needles at stations 1, 2, 3 and 5, 6, 7, while the yellow sliver feeds at stations 4 and 8 are idle. During a subsequent rotation, the sliver feeding means at station 4 might be activated to feed yellow sliver to the needles, while the sliver feeding means at station 2 is deactivated, and no further blue sliver is fed at that station.

Because the sliver feeding means at each station is individually controlled by its own pattern mechanism, it is possible. during the knitting of any course of the fabric, to feed selectively three of the four slivers of each four color sequence. In knitting such a four color, random design fabric. one sliver out of each sequence of four slivers is idle, and reserved for the selective replacement of one of the three slivers being fed to the machine. I 7

Although a preferred embodiment ofthis invention has been shown and described for the purpose of illustration. as required by Title 35 U.S.C. -l 12. it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and utility of the invention, or the scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric circular knitting machine having a complement of needles,

a. a doffer.

b. a wire-covered main cylinder c. a pair of rotatable wire-covered feed rolls for delivering sliver to the main cylinder, the wire coverings of said feed rolls meshing with each other and with the wire covering of the main cylinder to impart a shredding action to the sliver,

d. drive means for the feed rolls,

e. a clutch associated with the drive means and selectively engageable with the feed rolls to impart rotation thereto,

f. pattern means for controlling the clutch to impart intermittent rotation to the feed rolls to deliver sliver selectively to the main cylinder according to a predetermined fabric pattern and g. speed control means associated with the feed roll drive means to vary selectively the rate of rotational speed of the feed rolls, to vary selectively the density of the pile in the fabric,

h. said speed control means comprising a rotatable gear cone and a selectively adjustable gear driven by the gear cone.

2. The sliver feeding means of claim 1 wherein the gear cone comprises a plurality of individual, axially arranged gears of progressively varying diameter.

3. The sliver feeding means of claim 1 wherein:

a. the clutch is an electric clutch and b. the pattern means comprises,

i. a needle selecting drum having a plurality of jacks and ii. a microswitch controlled by the pattern jacks and electrically connected to the clutch for imparting electrical impulses thereto.

4. Sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric knitting machine having a circle of needles, said sliver feeding means including a pair of rotatable feed rolls and rotatable means for transferring sliver fibers from the feed rolls to the needles, the combination comprising:

a. sliver shredding means comprising,

i. a wire covering for each feed roll, each said wire covering including a plurality of individual circumferentially extending wires,

ii. a wire covering for the sliver transfer means comprising a plurality of individual circumferentially extending wires,

iii. each of said wire coverings intermeshing with each of the other wire coverings, and

iv. means for rotating the transfer means at a higher rate of speed than the speed of rotation of the feed rolls,

b. drive means for rotating the feed rolls and e. pattern means for controlling selectively the rotation of the feed rolls comprising i. a first control means operative to impart intermittent rotation to the feed rolls to deliver sliver selectively to the transfer means according to a predetermined pattern and ii. a second control means to vary selectively the rate of rotational speed of the feed rolls, to vary selectively the rate of delivery of sliver fibers to the transfer means.

5. Sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric knitting machine having a circle of needles, said sliver feeding means including a pair of rotatable feed rolls and rotatable means for transferring sliver fibers from the feed rolls to the needles. the combination comprising:

a. sliver shredding means including.

i. a wire covering for each feed roll, each said wire covering including a plurality of individually circumferentially extending wires.

LII

ii. a wire covering for the sliver transfer means comprising a plurality of individual circumferentially extending wires,

iii. each of said wire coverings intermeshing with each of the other wire coverings,

b. drive means for rotating the feed rolls and 0. pattern means for controlling selectively the rotation of the feed rolls comprising, 7

i. a first control means operative to impart rotation to the feed rolls to deliver sliver selectively to the transfer means according to a predetermined pattern, said first control means including,

1. an electric clutch associated with the drive means and selectively engageable with the feed rolls to impart intermittent rotation thereto,

2. a pattern drum having a complement of jacks and 3. a microswitch controlled by the jacks and electrically connected to the clutch for imparting electrical impulses thereto, and

ii. a second control means to vary selectively the rate of rotational speed of the feed rolls, to vary selectively the rate of delivery of sliver fibers to the transfer means, said second control means including,

1. a plurality of gears of varying size, each gear being adapted to impart a different speed of retation to the feed rolls and 2. gear selector means for connecting the feed rolls selectively to one of said plural gears.

6. In a sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric circular knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder with a complement of needles and a rotatable ring gear, said sliver feeding means including a doffer, a main cylinder, a single pair of sliver feed rolls and drive means for driving the doffer and cylinder from the ring gear at selected constant speeds of rotation, the improvement comprising a. a separate drive system for the sliver feed rolls, said separate drive system being driven from the ring gear and including b. fabric density control means interposed between the ring gear and the feed rolls to vary selectively the rate of rotation of the feed rolls, to vary selectively from a sliver roving the rate of delivery of sliver fibers to the needles, said fabric density control means including i. a group of individual gears of varying size,

ii. drive means connecting the group of gears to the feed rolls, to drive the feed rolls rotatably,

iii. said drive means including a gear selector engageable selectively with one gear of the group of gears for imparting a selected speed of rotation to the feed rolls.

7. The sliver feeding means of claim 6, further including a. sliver feeding control means for controlling selectively the rotation of the feed rolls,

b. said sliver feeding control means including i. a drive transmission means engageable with the feed rolls and ii. control means for engaging the drive transmission means selectively with the feed rolls to drive the feed rolls for selected intervals of time.

8. The sliver feeding means of claim 6, wherein the main cylinder and the sliver feed rolls each are provided with a wire covering. and the wire coverings of the feed rolls mesh with each other and with the wire covering of the main cylinder, to impart a shredding action to the sliver as it passes from the feed rolls to the main cylinder.

9. The sliver feeding means of claim 6, further including sliver feeding control means for controlling the rotation of the feed rolls, each said sliver feeding control means including a. a clutch for the feed rolls and b. pattern means for controlling the clutch to impart rotation selectively to the feed rolls.

10. The invention of claim 9, wherein the clutch is an electric clutch and the pattern means includes a. a rotatable drum disposed adjacent the needle cylinder and having a complement of jacks and b. a microswitch disposed adjacent the drum and controlled by the jacks, and connected electrically to the clutch to impart electrical impulses thereto, to cause the clutch to engage with the sliver feed rolls.

ll. Sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric knitting machine having a circle of needles, said sliver feeding means including a pair of rotatable sliver feed rolls and rotatable means for transferring sliver fibers from the feed rolls to the needles, the combination comprising:

a. sliver shredding means including.

i. a wire covering for each feed roll, each said wire covering including a plurality of circumferentially extending wires, and

ii. a wire covering for the sliver transfer means comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending wires.

iii. each of said wire coverings intermeshing with each of the other wire coverings.

b. drive means for rotating the feed rolls and c. pattern means for controlling selectively the rotation of the feed rolls comprising i. a first control means operative to impart rotation to the feed rolls to deliver sliver selectively to the transfer means according to a predetermined pattern and ii. a second control means to vary selectively the rate of rotational speed of the feed rolls, to vary selectively the rate of delivery of sliver fibers to the transfer means. 

1. a plurality of gears of varying size, each gear being adapted to impart a different speed of rotation to the feed rolls and
 1. an electric clutch associated with the drive means and selectively engageable with the feed rolls to impart intermittent rotation thereto,
 1. In a sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric circular knitting machine having a complement of needles, a. a doffer, b. a wire-covered main cylinder c. a pair of rotatable wire-covered feed rolls for delivering sliver to the main cylinder, the wire coverings of said feed rolls meshing with each other and with the wire covering of the main cylinder to impart a shredding action to the sliver, d. drive means for the feed rolls, e. a clutch associated with the drive means and selectively engageable with the feed rolls to impart rotation thereto, f. pattern means for controlling the clutch to impart intermittent rotation to the feed rolls to deliver sliver selectively to the main cylinder according to a predetermined fabric pattern and g. speed control means associated with the feed roll drive means to vary selectively the rate of rotational speed of the feed rolls, to vary selectively the density of the pile in the fabric, h. said speed control means comprising a rotatable gear cone and a selectively adjustable gear driven by the gear cone.
 2. The sliver feeding means of claim 1 wherein the gear cone comprises a plurality of individual, axially-arranged gears of progressively varying diameter.
 2. gear selector means for connecting the feed rolls selectively to one of said plural gears.
 2. a pattern drum having a complement of jacks and
 3. a microswitch controlled by the jacks and electrically connected to the clutch for imparting electrical impulses thereto, and ii. a second control means to vary selectively the rate of rotational speed of the feed rolls, to vary selectively the rate of delivery of sliver fibers to the transfer means, said second control means including,
 3. The sliver feeding means of claim 1 wherein: a. the clutch is an electric clutch and b. the pattern means comprises, i. a needle selecting drum having a plurality of jacks and ii. a microswitch controlled by the pattern jacks and electrically connected to the clutch for imparting electrical impulses thereto.
 4. Sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric knitting machine having a circle of needles, said sliver feeding means including a pair of rotatable feed rolls and rotatable means for transferring sliver fibers from the feed rolls to the needles, the combination comprising: a. sliver shredding means comprising, i. a wire covering for each feed roll, each said wire covering including a plurality of individual circumferentially extending wires, ii. a wire covering for the sliver transfer means comprising a plurality of individual circumferentially extending wires, iii. each of said wire coverings intermeshing with each of the other wire coverings, and iv. means for rotating the transfer means at a higher rate of speed than the speed of rotation of the feed rolls, b. drive means for rotating the feed rolls and c. pattern means for controlling selectively the rotation of the feed rolls comprising i. a first control means operative to impart intermittent rotation to the feed rolls to deliver sliver selectively to the transfer means according to a predetermined pattern and ii. a second control means to vary selectively the rate of rotational speed of the feed rolls, to vary selectively the rate of delivery of sliver fibers to the transfer means.
 5. Sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric knitting machine having a circle of needles, said sliver feeding means including a pair of rotatable feed rolls and rotatable means for transferring sliver fibers from the feed rolls to the needles, the combination comprising: a. sliver shredding means including, i. a wire covering for each feed roll, each said wire covering including a plurality of indIvidually circumferentially extending wires, ii. a wire covering for the sliver transfer means comprising a plurality of individual circumferentially extending wires, iii. each of said wire coverings intermeshing with each of the other wire coverings, b. drive means for rotating the feed rolls and c. pattern means for controlling selectively the rotation of the feed rolls comprising, i. a first control means operative to impart rotation to the feed rolls to deliver sliver selectively to the transfer means according to a predetermined pattern, said first control means including,
 6. In a sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric circular knitting machine having a rotatable needle cylinder with a complement of needles and a rotatable ring gear, said sliver feeding means including a doffer, a main cylinder, a single pair of sliver feed rolls and drive means for driving the doffer and cylinder from the ring gear at selected constant speeds of rotation, the improvement comprising a. a separate drive system for the sliver feed rolls, said separate drive system being driven from the ring gear and including b. fabric density control means interposed between the ring gear and the feed rolls to vary selectively the rate of rotation of the feed rolls, to vary selectively from a sliver roving the rate of delivery of sliver fibers to the needles, said fabric density control means including i. a group of individual gears of varying size, ii. drive means connecting the group of gears to the feed rolls, to drive the feed rolls rotatably, iii. said drive means including a gear selector engageable selectively with one gear of the group of gears for imparting a selected speed of rotation to the feed rolls.
 7. The sliver feeding means of claim 6, further including a. sliver feeding control means for controlling selectively the rotation of the feed rolls, b. said sliver feeding control means including i. a drive transmission means engageable with the feed rolls and ii. control means for engaging the drive transmission means selectively with the feed rolls to drive the feed rolls for selected intervals of time.
 8. The sliver feeding means of claim 6, wherein the main cylinder and the sliver feed rolls each are provided with a wire covering, and the wire coverings of the feed rolls mesh with each other and with the wire covering of the main cylinder, to impart a shredding action to the sliver as it passes from the feed rolls to the main cylinder.
 9. The sliver feeding means of claim 6, further including sliver feeding control means for controlling the rotation of the feed rolls, each said sliver feeding control means including a. a clutch for the feed rolls and b. pattern means for controlling the clutch to impart rotation selectively to the feed rolls.
 10. The invention of claim 9, wherein the clutch is an electric clutch and the pattern means includes a. a rotatable drum disposed adjacent the needle cylinder and having a complement of jacks and b. a microswitch disposed adjacent the drum and controlled by the jacks, and connected electrically to the clutch to impart electrical impulseS thereto, to cause the clutch to engage with the sliver feed rolls.
 11. Sliver feeding means for a high pile fabric knitting machine having a circle of needles, said sliver feeding means including a pair of rotatable sliver feed rolls and rotatable means for transferring sliver fibers from the feed rolls to the needles, the combination comprising: a. sliver shredding means including, i. a wire covering for each feed roll, each said wire covering including a plurality of circumferentially extending wires, and ii. a wire covering for the sliver transfer means comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending wires, iii. each of said wire coverings intermeshing with each of the other wire coverings, b. drive means for rotating the feed rolls and c. pattern means for controlling selectively the rotation of the feed rolls comprising i. a first control means operative to impart rotation to the feed rolls to deliver sliver selectively to the transfer means according to a predetermined pattern and ii. a second control means to vary selectively the rate of rotational speed of the feed rolls, to vary selectively the rate of delivery of sliver fibers to the transfer means. 